Lower Manhattan recovery efforts are going "very well" or "somewhat well," 60 percent of New
York City voters say in a Quinnipiac University poll released today, up from 40 percent in an
August 27, 2009, survey.

New Yorkers are less skeptical about promised deadlines for completion of key Lower
Manhattan projects, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds:

42 percent believe One World Trade Center will be complete by December 2013,
compared to 25 percent in August 2009;

46 percent believe the World Trade Center Transit Hub will be ready by June 2014,
compared to 41 percent two years ago;

36 percent say the pace of development makes them proud to be a New Yorker, up from 18 percent two years ago.

New Yorkers say 43 - 34 percent that the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has
played a positive role in World Trade Center redevelopment, compared to a split 32 - 33 percent
in an April 12, 2006, Quinnipiac University poll.

"As the World Trade Center rebuilding moves along, New Yorkers are comfortable with
the pace. But 74 percent say it's very important or somewhat important to see progress this
year," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"And a lot of New Yorkers won't believe it until they see One World Trade Center and
the Transit Hub up and running."

"We think Mayor Michael Bloomberg played a positive role in the Ground Zero
rebuilding," Carroll added. "The Port Authority gets more credit than five years ago. Note that
this survey was conducted right after the Port Authority announced a very unpopular toll hike."

Seventy percent of New York City voters plan to visit the 9/11 Memorial, which opens to
the public today, with consistent interest in every borough and racial group and among men and
women. And 75 percent plan to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which opens next year.

But voters say 71 - 23 percent that the Museum should not charge admission. Among
that 23 percent who favor admission, 84 percent say a proposed $25 ticket price is too high.

Mayor Bloomberg's Approval

With the wind of Hurricane Irene in his sails, Mayor Bloomberg is cruising to a 54 - 35
percent job approval rating, up from 45 - 43 percent July 27 and Bloomberg's best score since the
Christmas blizzard.

Democrats approve 57 - 31 percent, better than the Republican approval of 55 - 39
percent and the independent voter rating of 51 - 40 percent. The mayor's score ranges from a
negative 39 - 56 percent in Staten Island to a high of 65 - 24 percent in Manhattan.

New York City voters approve 86 - 10 percent of Bloomberg's handling of preparations
for Hurricane Irene. Support is equally strong in all boroughs.

And voters approve 90 - 8 percent of the mayor's decision to order evacuations in
advance of Hurricane Irene. Support is strong among all groups.

Even voters in neighborhoods under the evacuation order approve of it 84 - 15 percent.

"Maybe it was the decisive preparations for Irene - Bloomberg's job approval has moved
up nicely. As usual, Manhattan likes him best of all," Carroll said.

"This survey was conducted after Hurricane Irene and during the storm about Deputy
Mayor Stephen Goldsmith's arrest - but maybe that second storm is a tempest in a teapot.

"The critics cried 'overkill!' But most people agreed with the mayor, 'better safe than
sorry.' Overwhelmingly, Bloomberg's handling of Irene gets high marks."

From September 1 - 6, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,282 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?

8. How would you rate the job New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has done helping
New York City recover from the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on
September 11th, 2001 - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

TREND: How would you rate the job Mayor Michael Bloomberg has done helping New York City
recover from the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001 -
excellent, good, not so good, or poor?